Mwaminifu Galleries

08/04/2022

These are at a local frame shop being re-stretched after their arrival from Kenya.

08/04/2022

Two of Wiliston's paintings finally arrived from Kenya.
And they are gorgeous. We have them at a local frame shop being stretched.

In the meantime, if you would like to purchase a "wearable / usable" piece of Wiliston's art check out our online store at bonfire.com/store/mwaminifu-galleries.

And remember a portion of each sale goes to support the Shelter of Hope Nyalenda for the street kids in Kisimi, Kenya. I'm excited to get my Jabali t-shirt.

Mwaminifu: Faithful in Swahili. Mwaminifu Galleries is the agent for former Kenyan street child & rising East African artist, Wiliston Juma.

07/26/2022

This photo captures two of the passions of rising Contemporary African artist Wiliston Juma, painting and building. Both will eventually go to support the Shelter of Hope Nyalenda, his shelter for the street children of the Nyalenda slum in Kisumu, Kenya.

His paintings will go towards raising the funds necessary to support the 200+ kids which use his shelter daily. The mechanism on the back of the bike is the frame for a bicycle powered washing machine which street kids will use in the surrounding area to raise money to support themselves.

07/25/2022

The Shelter of Hope Nyalenda is less than 1000 yards from the shores of Lake Victoria in Kisumu, Kenya.

During a live messenger session the other day with Wiliston I asked him where he drew his inspiration from. He replied just everyday life in Nyalenda, fishing, going to the market, wash days, etc... and yes even sometimes from the internet.

07/24/2022

When I chatted with Wiliston the other day, I asked whether he painted when he was outside because so many pictures of his works are set outside. I enjoy seeing the surroundings in which the paintings were done.

Here is the progression of Kuvunjwa (Shattered) over the past few days as Wiliston continued his work.

07/24/2022

It's quite a journey for Wiliston's paintings to make it from the Nyalenda slum, Kisumu, Kenya. We're eager to these once they arrive on Tuesday.

If you see any of Wiliston's paintings that you like in the online photo gallery, let us know. You will need to allow between 2 to 4 weeks for it to make the journey to the US.

07/22/2022

Rising Contemporary African artist Wiliston Juma continues his work on Kuvunjwa (Shattered).

If you see a painting in our online gallery that you're interested in let us know and we'll arrange for earlier import to the US. It currently takes abut 2 to 4 weeks to bring a painting to the US and prepare it for sale.

07/21/2022

Kuvunjwa (Shattered) is the latest in-progress work by ;rising Contemporary African artist Wiliston Juma.

The in-progress work reminds us that each of us is shattered in one manner or another, whether emotionally, physically, relationship-wise or mentally.

But beauty still remains... both inside and out.

(I love how Wiliston displays his art in the outdoor environment in which it was created.)

07/19/2022

The beauty of rising Contemporary African artist Wiliston Juma's art lies not only in the vibrant colors he uses but often in the simplicity of the rendering which conveys the emotion of his subject.

As we share his artwork, if you see something of his work that you would like to purchase which we have not yet imported to the United States, please let us know and we will arrange for its shipment.

These pieces are entitled "Midomo Nyekundu," Swahili for "Red Lips" and "Tumaini," Swahili for "Hope."

07/18/2022

Rising Contemporary African artist Wiliston Juma is more than a painter. ...much, much more.

Immensely talented, he is also a potter who throws his own pottery and glazes them. He is a weaver who weaves bags and purses out of native grasses. But probably most importantly, he is a teacher.

At 24 years old, he has more responsibility than most of us could ever dream of. Every single day, he not only serves the physical needs of 200 street kids; he teaches.

He teaches each of the kids how to do what he does. They help weave the bags and purses one could see for sale if they happened to stroll along the pathway where his works are set up.

07/17/2022

Rising Contemporary African artist, Williston Juma hopes one day that he can "live to paint rather than paint to live."

He and another former street kid, founded the Shelter of Hope Nyalenda, which Wiliston now operates alone in a slum in the city of Kisumu, Kenya. The shelter serve 200 kids a day, including 80 of whom he is unable to provide housing because of government regulations. These 80 kids go back out on the street every single night.

Wiliston operates the Shelter of Hope on less than $27 per day. Even such a paltry sum is difficult to raise. Some charity, of course helps.

But Wiliston paints and works on his art every single day. Lives literally depend on it. For when a child falls ill, such as this one who has malaria, Wiliston sees to it they get medical attention.

To do that, he sells his works along a pathway, the paintings, pottery and the woven bags and purses the kids helped to weave laid out, hoping a passerby will stop and purchase one of the items.

07/16/2022

"Sauti," Swahili for "Lyrical," is in transit from Africa. It has been removed from the canvas and shipped rolled up to protect it against damage. Once it arrives, Mwaminifu Galleries, will inspect this acrylic on canvas painting for damage, digitize it, then offer it for sale.

Pricing for this painting, unstretched and unframed, begins at $5,000. Proceeds will support the artist and the mission to help the street kids of the Nyalenda slum in Kisumu, Kenya.

All reproduction rights will be be retained by Mwaminifu Galleries and the artist, Wiliston Juma so this art will provide ongoing support for the ministry.

07/16/2022

This painting is entitled "Jabali. It means "strong as a rock" in Swahili.

07/16/2022

A street kid for eleven years, Wiliston Juma, 24, is a naive art artist, completely self-taught with no formal education or training.

With bright, bold colors, he paints the contemporary African diaspora of his life's experience and the culture in which he is immersed. Elements of both primitivism and minimalism abound in his work. (He also is a potter and weaves bags out of local grasses.)

My sister, Tammy Robinson, became familiar with Wiliston through her Dignity Packages ministry about 1 1/2 years ago. The two of them connected over the street children's shelter he and another former street kid founded,

(You should check out the bicycle-powered washing machine he built on the shelter's page,)

https://www.facebook.com/Shelter-of-Hope-107804640688864

Street kids will use this bicycle-powered washing machine, provided by Wiliston, to help support themselves. Daily, each child faces a struggle to find enough to eat; a place to sleep; and, to stave off disease.

Daily, over 200 kids attend his program. He provides overnight shelter for 22 orphans; 100 return to their home in the surrounding villages; and the remaining 80 or so, well, they return to the street.

Wiliston sells his art, to the occasional tourist or missionary passing through to support all these kids and provide programs at the Shelter of Hope Nyalenda which is located less than 1,000 yards from the shores of Lake Victoria. Nyalenda is a slum, in Kisumu, Kenya. He and his co-founder, also a former street kid, provide a meal; a place to shower; teaches them a craft; and cares for them when they are sick.

Both my sister and Wiliston have a passion to help and serve the children of Africa. My sister, through her sewing talent; Wiliston, through his artistic talent.

Both Tammy and Wiliston have faith that God will help them meet the needs of the children they serve. Hence, the name, "Mwaminifu", meaning "faithful" in Swahili. (Mwaminifu is pronounce Mwa - me - ne -fu.

The three of us chatted many times about the challenges faced by Wiliston and the kids he works to support. Sometimes, it's the challenge of finding enough resources; other times, it's the thief who steals his artwork to sell because that thief faces the same challenges faced by those Williston supports.

We will be sharing more of Wiliston's art on this page. And yes, some, including digitized products, will be available for purchase. Proceeds support the ministry.